Scootic In Restaurant in Millinocket, Maine

Scootic In sits in the heart of Millinocket, a few miles from Baxter State Park, and serves the kind of food hikers and locals crave after a day outdoors. They've got seafood, burgers, steaks, and pizza on a menu that bounces around without pretense. The place is often packed, especially on weekends, and the staff keeps moving despite the crowds.

• Blackened scallops and lobster rolls satisfy post-hike hunger.
• Sweet chili wings rank in diners' top five all-time lists.
• Homemade pizza with generous toppings and crispy crust.
• Calzone marinara sauce stands out; staff steers you well.

Start with the sweet chili wings, crunchy and sauced just right. The blackened scallops come over rice pilaf and hit hard. Order a calzone with pepperoni, mushrooms, and whatever else appeals, or split the 14-inch homemade pizza. Lobster rolls work for lunch or dinner. The Greek salad rounds things out if you want something lighter.

The dining room and bar pack tight, especially when hikers roll in off the trail. Noise bounces around, but it's the good kind of busy, not chaotic. Clean, unpretentious, built for people who are hungry and want to eat.

You'll find families, hikers still in their boots, and regulars bellied up at the bar. The kitchen handles seafood, Italian, and pub fare without trying to do too many things at once. Waits can stretch to 20 minutes or more when it's slammed, but the owners (now in their fifth generation running the place since 1901) have a system that works.

One recent visitor called the wings 'phenomenal' and ranked them in their top five all-time. Guests praise Stephanie and Amber for moving fast despite the rush, and they come back for the marinara sauce on the calzone. A pair of hikers landed here after a day at Baxter and left planning a return trip.